Page 31 of Thorns of Silence

Once he was out of sight, I stood up and signaled for the restaurant manager to empty out the place. All the staff had been compensated for the remainder of the year. Depending on how Phoenix behaved, I’d either keep this place or destroy it.

There was a thrill in not knowing which way it’d go. With her, I never knew.

I made my way toward the bathroom, sticking to the shadows. When I reached it, I leaned against the wall and listened to her moving—pacing—inside, probably contemplating my murder. My lips tugged up.

Bring it on, dandelion.

She exited the bathroom and came to a halt, spotting me. Even in the dark hallway, I could see her eyes flash angrily, those blue flames tempting me. I offered her my most charming smile.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Her jaw clenched.“Get lost, Dante. If you don’t, Baptiste and I will go somewhere else. I’d rather eat off the subway floor than anywhere around you,”she angrily signed.

I pushed my hands into my pockets, then slowly walked around her. At six foot three, I had at least a head on her, but the way she carried herself made her appear taller.

I stopped when I faced her. “Your date left.”

She let out an exasperated breath and I heard her mutter softly,“Asshole.”

The girl could mutter that very clearly. I let my gaze travel over her red-stained ivory dress, her thigh playing peekaboo with me. Fuck, she was gorgeous. “I’m sorry, did I ruin your date?” I mouthed slowly.

“Yes.”

I grinned, then signed, “Let me make it up to you.”

She flipped me off in the universal language. Lovely, she mustreallylike me.

“I’d rather eat nails than sit at that table, looking at your pretty face,”she signed with a grim expression.

My lips quirked into a smile as I leaned closer, inhaling her scent deep into my lungs. “I knew you couldn’t resist me and my pretty face, dandelion.” She let out an exasperated breath, but before she could sign anything, I continued. “You’re into me, Nix. And I’m into you. Let’s just skip all of this and make it official, shall we?”

“You’re batshit crazy,”she signed, annoyance flaring in the delicate lines of her face.“I’m messaging Baptiste and going home with him.”

My fingers wrapped around her wrist in the next breath. “In that dress… No, I don’t think you are.” She shot me a glare marbled with confusion. “That dress says fuck me.”

She lowered her eyes to it, then returned them to me with one brow cocked.“It’s classy.”

I clenched my jaw. “Maybe, but it still says fuck me. And if he lays a finger on you, I’m going to end his existence.” Then to ensure she understood me, I added, “And, sweetheart, I don’t speak metaphorically.”

“God, I hate you.”

“Keep telling yourself that, dandelion. Besides, it turns me on. Now, let’s have a date.” I gave her my most charming smile, the kind that women usually went for. Something passed her expression, and suddenly she was smiling.

Fuck!

It actually worked!

I took her chin between my fingers, her skin soft under my thumb and index finger. She leaned closer, and my heart began to pump harder, shooting straight to my dick.

Her cheeks flushed as she batted her dark lashes. Her kissable lips parted and she moved her head, taking the pad of my finger between her lips. I stopped breathing for a moment, her tongue darting out to lick my finger, sending my brain into overdrive.

Goddammit.

My body buzzed with warmth and her scent wrapped around me in the most fucking familiar way. Almost as if I’d once held her naked body against mine.

Then she bit my finger, and fuck, she did it savagely. Her teeth scraped against my skin and my dick twitched painfully.

“Fuck, now I want you even more.”